POPLARVILLE - The late Delos Hudson Burks was proud of his humble beginnings, calling himself “just a country boy.” He graduated from Pearl River Junior College in 1946 and went on to serve with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and in numerous public service positions until his death in 2008. He is one of six alumni being inducted into the Pearl River Community College Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame on April 17 at Southern Oaks House and Gardens in Hattiesburg. Other inductees are entertainer Jimmy Buffett, who will accept by video; retired banker James R. Ginn of Bay St. Louis, retired surveyor Francis Herrin of Hattiesburg, retired Secret Service agent Howell Purvis of Purvis and retired attorney Donnie Waits of Gulfport. Delos Burk served as a charter member of the Pearl River Community College Development Foundation board and was always an active member of the Pearl River County Alumni Association and took great pride in supporting our students at the college,” said Ernie Lovell, executive director of the Development Foundation. “He carried that support for education on to Jackson through his time in the Legislature. He was a tremendous proponent of education.” Burks’ granddaughter, State Sen. Angela Burks Hill of Picayune, will accept the award on behalf of the family. Marsha Burks Megehee of Picayune remembers her father talking about his days at Pearl River and the college’s impact on his life. “PRJC enabled country boys like him to obtain an education in his own community, providing a step up to him and those like him, to further their education at a four-year college,” she said. “He always believed the school was responsible for his later accomplishments in service to his state and country.” Burks came to Pearl River after graduating from Industrial High School in rural Pearl River County and worked on the college farm for 10 cents an hour. After graduation, he taught high school math for several years before enlisting in the Army Air Corps. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1942 and two days later married Melva Rester. He and his crew flew 35 combat missions in B-26 Marauders and OA-10A Catalinas (PBYs) in the Pacific Theater, saving the lives of 172 downed pilots during sea rescues. Burks was promoted to major and left active duy in 1945 to pursue his bachelor’s degree at then-Mississippi Southern College. He earned the law degree in 1954 while serving in the state Legislature from 1952-1960 and as a National VFW Press Officer. He also served on the state Building Commission, as an assistant attorney general and on the Ethics Commission. Burks continued his military service in the Mississippi Air National Guard, retiring as a major general. He and his late wife had three children, seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. “He would be so proud that he is being honored at PRCC, a school he dearly loved and appreciated,” Megehee said.

Tickets for the gala are $100 and are available by calling 601 403-1191 through Friday, April 11.

Two Gulf Coast residents will be among those honored by Pearl River Community College with induction into the Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame. James Ginn of Diamondhead and Donnie Waits of Gulfport will be inducted on Thursday, April 17, at Southern Oaks House and Gardens in Hattiesburg. Ginn, who is retired as executive vice president for Hancock Bank, played football at Pearl River and earned his degree in 1959. “I guess the thing that I looked back at is they cared for us,” he said of his time at Pearl River. “Back then, you had to go to school. You couldn’t lay in the sack because if you had three unexcused absences you were out.” He went onto Delta State before starting his banking career in 1962. Waits played on the Wildcat football teams of 1954 and 1955. “The people were down to earth and fun-loving but, at the same time, serious about going to school,” Waits said. After leaving Pearl River, he attended then-Mississippi Southern College and Tulane Law School. His career as an attorney included serving as Stone County prosecuting attorney and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Reserves. Others to be inducted into the Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame are entertainer Jimmy Buffett (who will accept by video), the late Delos Burks of Picayune, who served in several state positions including the Legislature and in the Mississippi Air National Guard; Francis Herrin of Hattiesburg, who had a 40-year career with Shell Oil Co.; and retired Secret Service agent Howell Purvis of Purvis. Corporate sponsor for the gala is Hattiesburg Coca-Cola. Tickets for the social at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. are $100. They can be purchased through Friday, April 11, by calling 601-403-1191.

Three men with ties to the Hattiesburg area are among those in the 2014 class of the Pearl River Community College Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame. Francis Herrin of Hattiesburg, Howell Purvis of Purvis and Donnie Waits of Gulfport will be inducted during a gala on Thursday, April 17, at Southern Oaks House and Garden. Herrin, a native of Prentiss, graduated from Pearl River in 1958 and enjoyed a 40-year career as a surveyor with Shell Oil Co. in Jeannerette and New Orleans, La. “Going there really made it for me, to tell you the truth,” Herrin said. “Now that I look back I have to say that was some of the best days of my lfie. After I got kind of settled in down there and got to know a lot of people, we had a lot of fun.” Purvis completed his degree at Pearl River in 1956 and began a varied career that included two stints as a Naval aviator and 20 years with the U.S. Secret Service. “I was in the band at Pearl River, played trumpet and really, really loved that,” Purvis said. “I made a lot of wonderful friends. We still email back and forth.” Purvis continues to play trumpet and has played “Taps” at more than 300 military funerals with the VFW Post 3036 Honor Guard. Waits, a Hattiesburg native, played football on the 1954 and 1955 Pearl River teams. “The people were down to earth and fun-loving but, at the same time, serious about going to school,” Waits said. His career as an attorney included serving as Stone County’s prosecuting attorney and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Reserves. Other PRCC alumni who will be honored with induction are entertainer Jimmy Buffett (who will accept by video), the late Delos Burks of Picayune who served in several state positions including the Legislature and in the Mississippi Air National Guard; and retired banker James Ginn of Diamondhead Corporate sponsor for the gala is Hattiesburg Coca-Cola. Tickets for the social at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. are $100. They can be purchased through Friday, April 11, by calling 601-403-1191.

POPLARVILLE - The Pearl River Community College Alumni Association is holding its annual Little Black Dress Charity Event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the home of PRCC President Dr. William and Janet Gale Lewis. The event will include a fashion show, luncheon and silent auction which will include more than 100 accessories and handbags. Money raised at the event will go to the PRCC Student Needs Fund at the Development Foundation. Tickets are a $50 donation and can be purchased over the phone by calling 601-403-1193 using Visa, MasterCard or American Express. For more information contact Candace Harper at 601-403-1193 or charper@prcc.edu.

POPLARVILLE - Trevor Hunt will be presented in a classical guitar recital at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, at Malone Chapel at Pearl River Community College. The public is invited to attend. Hunt, PRCC guitar instructor, will perform “Preludios Epigramaticos” by Leo Brouwer, which consists for six movements, and “Sonata (Omaggio a Boccherini)” by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He also will present a recital at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Bay Street Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg.

POPLARVILLE – Dr. Becky Askew, Vice President for Planning and Institutional Research for Pearl River Community College, received the 2014 Mildred Bulpitt Woman of the Year award by the American Association of Women in Community Colleges. Mildred Bulpitt, was a founding member of AAWCC and a passionate advocate for women in leadership in community colleges and beyond.According to the AAWCC, the Bulpitt Award is bestowed upon a woman who has an outstanding record of service to women in the two-year college setting. Additionally, she must be a woman whose service to women in two-year colleges deserves national recognition as a role model for two-year college women throughout the country. “If ever there was a person who has demonstrated a capacity for leadership and whose attitude, values, and actions portray a broader notion of how she inspires positive changes in her work environment and community, it is Dr. Askew,” said PRCC President William Lewis. “Her experience as a veteran educator has proved to be a valuable asset to PRCC as well as the community.” Dr. Askew received her award Monday, April 7, at the annual AAWCC awards breakfast in Washington, D.C. “Receiving this award has given to me the opportunity to thank my colleagues and my family for their encouragement and assistance throughout the years,” said Dr. Askew. “I believe that any success that I have had is because of team work. “I accepted the award on behalf of the many strong women who have guided me throughout my life and on behalf of the women at Pearl River Community College who work to ensure that our students are successful and have a bright future.” As PRCC’s Vice President for Planning and Institutional Research, Dr. Askew serves as the SACSCOC accreditation liaison for the college and coordinates strategic planning efforts, personnel evaluations, grant proposals, and professional development activities for faculty, staff, and administrators. In her various roles, she encourages women on campus to continue their education in order to achieve leadership positions.Dr. Askew has served as the chair of PRCC’s annual Women’s Health Symposium since its beginning in 2007. She leads the planning of all aspects of the Symposium, giving numerous women at the College and in the community the opportunity to serve in leadership positions. Outstanding speakers inspire and motivate approximately 450 women not only to take action to improve their health and the health of their family members, but also to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.She was the second woman to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Poplarville and provided leadership and training for female presidents who followed her. She served as Governor of Rotary District 6840, composed of Rotary Clubs in South Mississippi and Southeastern Louisiana, and has participated in the training of Rotary Governors in regional activities.Dr. Askew also serves as board member and treasurer of the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation. She encourages and promotes grant activities for women and others throughout the Lower Pearl River Valley region. She was named Administrator of the Year by the PRCC Association of Educational Office Professionals and served as Chair of the PRCC Honors Institute Steering Committee.The AAWCC, organized in 1973, proclaims on its website that it is the leading national organization that champions women and maximizes their potential.

POPLARVILLE - Two Pearl River Community College groups will come together in concert for the first time on April 24. The JazzCats band and The Voices ensemble will also perform individually during the Spring Concert at 7 p.m. April 24 at the Brownstone Center for the Arts. The groups will perform together on “It Had Better Be Tonight,” a Henry Mancini composition used in the Pink Panther movie and popularized in recent years by Michael Buble`, and “Smack Dab in the Middle,” a standard recorded by several artists include The New York Voices. The Voices will also perform a number of selections varying from a cappella pop to traditional vocal jazz. The JazzCats will play several tunes, include “Manteca,” a Dizzy Gillespie classic; “Indiana,” “Mr. GK,” a tribute to drummer Gene Krupa; “Soulful Strut,” “Little Big Gumbo” and “Cold Duck Time.” LaDona Tyson directs The Voices. The JazzCats are directed by Archie Rawls, assisted by Michael Bass. There is no admission for the concert.

POPLARVILLE - The String of Pearls dance team at Pearl River Community College returned from national competition in Dallas March 28 and 29 with two team first-place awards and one individual top honor. The team won the American Dance and Drill Team championship for its pom routine in the large ensemble category and the academic championship in the community college division based on the team grade point average. Freshman Regan al-Jabi of Carriere won the solo dance competition while freshman Emily Rhodes of Hattiesburg came in second. They competed against 12 other dancers. The team also placed second in hip hop, the first year to compete in this category, and fourth in jazz routine. Director is Kara Fleming. In addition to al-Jabi and Rhodes, team members are Emily Fleming, Brooke Wactor, Bridgett Patterson and Caitlynn Herrin, all of Carriere; Megan Varnado, Annakae Frierson, Reanna Reese, Melissa Dragon, Victoria Farmer, Hanna Falls and Linzy Hudson-Kline, all of Picayune; Gabby Burge, Meghan Witworth and Carley Harrell, all of Poplarville; Taylor Thames and Taylor Turcotte, both of Waveland; Breanna Peters of Brandon, Darion Matthews of Richton and Amber Pineda of Hattiesburg.

The String of Pearls dance team at Pearl River Community College recently won the American Dance and Drill Team national championship for the pom routine in the large ensemble category and the national academic championship against all other community college in the competition based on the members' grade point averages. They are, kneeling from left, Regan al-Jabi, Emily Fleming, both of Carriere; Breanna Peters of Brandon, Brooke Wactor of Carriere. Megan Varnado of Picayune, Bridgett Patterson of Carriere, Emily Rhodes of Hattiesburg, Darion Matthews of Richton; standing, Gabby Burge of Poplarville, Annakae Frierson of Picayune, Meghan Witworth of Poplarville, Reanna Reese , Melissa Dragon, both of Picayune; Carley Harrell of Poplarville, Victoria Farmer of Picayune, Amber Pineda of Hattiesburg, Hanna Falls of Picayune, Caitlyn Herrin of Carriere, Taylor Thames of Waveldna, Linzy Hudson-Kline of Picayune and Taylor Turcotte of Waveland.

String of Pearls dancer Regan al-Jabi of Carriere, left, won the solo competition at the American Dance and Drill Tearm championships in Dallas. Emily Rhodes of Hattiesburg, right, was first runner-up. Both are freshmen and competed against 12 other community college dancers.

POPLARVILLE - A group of technicians from the Naval Oceanograhpic Office at Stennis Space Center spent several days recently at Pearl River Community College. The men were enrolled in a 40-hour course in the PRCC heating and air conditioning program through the college’s Workforce Development division. “They’re learning how to install mini-splits and refrigerant circuits,” instructor Eric McCoy said. Mini-splits are compact air conditioners used on ships, he said. “These go on 20-foot containers for offshore use,” NAVO electrical technician Corey Smith said. “They keep our seagoing containers cool while we’re at sea.” The block schedule utilized in many of PRCC’s career-technical education programs allows the college to offer training when students are between block classes. McCoy has been teaching classes for NAVO for three years. “I like to use this asset for on-the-job training,” Smith said. “Eric is one of the best instructors we can find.” Several of the NAVO students have completed instrumentation and hydraulics block classes in the past and one, Mark Guchereau of Picayune, is a graduate of the PRCC electrical technology program. For infomation about PRCC Workforce Development, telephone 601 403-1241.

PRCC heating and air conditioning instructor Eric McCoy, center, shows NAVO electrical technicians Mark Guchereau of Picayune, left, and Chauncey Philan of Pass Christian how to make a fitting for a compact air conditioning unit. Looking on is Corey Smith of NAVO.PRCC Public Relations photo—

POPLARVILLE - Wrought iron markers made by Pearl River Community College welding students will tell some of the history of Poplarville. Zachary Schoenauer of Picayune and Zachary Bishop of Kiln made the markers for the Poplarville Historical Preservation Society’s driving tour. “I like that they’re going to be in and around town for the future,” Schoenauer said. “We can come back and see that it’s had an impact on the community.” The decorative curls on each marker were made by hand. “They turned out to be more than just signs,” Bishop said. “They turned out to be works of art.” Owners of historical homes will purchase the markers, which will be painted with the the home’s name, the year it was built and the name(s) of the current owners, society president Joan Bassett said. “We are organizing a driving tour of historical homes in Poplarville,” she said “We need to let people know what we have here.” Thirteen homes are on the tour so far, and she and other members are working on a tour brochure. The society, which has 40 members, also is putting the finishing touches on a museum in the rear of the Poplarville Chamber of Commerce office. “We’re hoping to open our little museum Memorial Day weekend,” she said. For more information on the society and its projects, telephone Bassett at 601 795-8736.

Zachary Bishop of Kiln, left, and Zachary Schoenauer of Picayune stand outside the Pearl River Community College welding shop with two of the markers they made for the Poplarville Historical Preservation Society.

POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College is offering four workforce development summer courses on the Poplarville campus. Electrical, plumber’s helper and welding will be offered from May 19 through July 24; pipefitting will run from June 2 - July 24. Applicants for all courses must be 18 and provide a current drug test at their own expense. Students who complete the courses will be qualified to apply for the 10-hour OSHA certification. Fee for the electrical course is $150. Students must provide 1/4-inch flat screwdriver, #2 Phillips screwdriver, 9-inch lineman pliers or equivalent, electrician’s or box knife and small analog meter. Students will be eligible to apply for NCCER certification in introductory craft skills core curriculum and Level 1 modules - electrical safety, conductors and cables, basic electrical construction drawings and residential electrical service. The fee for the plumber’s helper class is $100. Students must provide clear safety classes. They will be eligible for NCCER certification in introductory craft skills core curriculum and plumbing modules - blueprint reading for plumbers, plumbing math, plumbing layouts, supply and sewer lines. Fee for welding is $300. Students must have welding shield, welding gloves, welding cap, steel-toed shoes, long sleeve shirt, ear plugs and safety glasses. They will be eligible for basic lift truck operator OSHA certification along with NCCER certification in introductory craft skills core curriculum and welding. Fee for the pipefitting course is $300. Students must provide steel-toed shoes, clear safety glasses, welding cap, welding gloves, long sleeve snap shirt and tape measure. Completion of the course will allow students to apply for basic lift truck operator OSHA certification along with NCCER certification in introductory craft skills core curriculum, Level 1 and Level 2 pipefitting. The welding and pipefitting courses are eligible for WIA tuition assistance for students who qualifty. For information on WIA assistance, contact Rebekah Jackson at 601 336-2291 or rejackson@prcc.edu. For applications and other questions, contact Gloria Wasmund at 601 403-1241 or gwasmund@prcc.edu.

POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College honored six outstanding alumni with induction into the Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame at an April 17 gala.Honored were entertainer Jimmy Buffett, the late Delos H. Burks of Picayune, James Ginn of Diamondhead, Francis Herrin of Hattiesburg, Howell Purvis of Purvis and Donnie Waits of Gulfport. “We admire what you have achieved,” said PRCC President Dr. William Lewis. “You are some special people we are recognizing tonight.” The Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame recognizes the successes of Pearl River alumni. “If my grandfather was here tonight, I guess he would say ‘I did alright for a country boy.’,” said state Sen. Angela Burks Hill in accepting her grandfather’s award. Burks graduated from PRCC in 1936, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II and went on to distinguish himself in state government, including service in the state House of Representatives, and the Mississippi Air National Guard. He retired as a major general. Ginn, a 1959 graduate, worked 42 years for Hancock Bank, retiring as executive vice president. Herrin also worked his entire career for one company - Shell Oil - after graduating from Pearl River in 1958. Purvis, a 1955 graduate, served twice as a Naval Aviator and for 20 years as a U.S. Secret Service agent. He recalled learning about service to others and integrity from his instructors at Pearl River. “These values were not only taught but lived out by the staff,” he said. “For all the things Pearl River College did for me, there exists a debt of gratitude that will never be repaid.” Waits also graduated in 1955, heading into a 40-year career as an attorney while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He retired from the military as a lieutenant colonel and from the legal profession as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. Pearl River County Justice Court Judge James Hal Breland accepted the award for Buffett, who lived with the Breland family while attending Pearl River in 1965-66. Buffett also sent a video-taped acceptance.

Honorees at the 2014 Pearl River Community College Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame gala were, seated from left, Howell Purvis of Purvis and Donnie Waits of Gulfport; standing, Francis Herrin of Hattiesburg, James Ginn of Diamondhead, Sen. Angela Burks Hill, representing her late grandfather Delos H. Burks; James Hal Breland, representing entertainer Jimmy Buffett; and PRCC President Dr. William Lewis.

POPLARVILLE - Former Pearl River Community College football great Doug Daniels will be inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Tuesday, April 29, in Jackson. Daniels, 81, who lives in Poplarville with his wife, Phyllis, is one of 15 inductees into the class. Daniels was a standout football player at PRCC from 1950-52 following an outstanding high school career at Poplarville High. “This award means everything to me,” said Daniels. “Pearl River College has been in my life since I was a toddler. I used to play football on Sunday afternoons on the campus until I was old enough to play varsity ball. The school has always been a part of my life.” As a 17-year-old PRCC freshman in 1950, Daniels started as a halfback and then played the balance of the year at defensive safety. He led the defense with six interceptions in six games, returned punts and kicked PATs. When Daniels was a sophomore, late coach Dobie Holden, a Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame inductee, moved him to quarterback. One of his best passing games was four touchdown passes in a 47-0 win at East Mississippi. He also handled all the punting and kicking duties.Daniels, a PRCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee, was named to the All-State first team as the quarterback. He also received the PRCC J. J. Holcomb Outstanding Athlete Award. “This is one of the great honors an athlete could have,” said Daniels. “I’m so humbled by the selection.”Daniels played his first full season of football in 1948 as a junior at Poplarville High. Playing halfback and linebacker, his team was not scored on for the first eight games. The team lost one game in 1948 by two points and two games in 1949. After Daniels' senior year, he was awarded the J. J. Holcomb Award as PHS’s most outstanding athlete.Daniels was recruited by Tulane University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Southeastern Louisiana University. He chose Southeastern and alternated at quarterback, halfback, and safety on defense. Southeastern won the Gulf States Conference co-championship both years he played at SLU. In 1954, after receiving his mathematics degree, he joined the Army. While in Germany, he played baseball and football for the 12th Infantry. His football team was the only undefeated team in Europe in 1955, and Daniels was selected as the Northern European All-Conference First-Team quarterback by Stars and Stripes newspaper. In 1956, Daniels accepted the position of head coach and mathematics teacher at Poplarville High School, coaching football and baseball and teaching five math classes daily. In 1959, he was named “Coach of the Year” with Poplarville’s first undefeated/untied football team. The 1957 and 1959 PHS Baseball teams won the Desoto Conference Championship. In 1966, he became district director of counseling and retired with 41 ½ years.Doug and his wife, Phyllis, who is a 36-year PRCC business instructor retiree, have been married for 47 years and have three children, Darla (David), Dana (Kevin), and Bryan (Laura), and 13 grandchildren. The three children have degrees in math or communications.

POPLARVILLE - The Pearl River Community College Singers will present a spring concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 29. The performance will be in the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. There is no admission charge. The Singers will present a program of standard and new compositions for choir. LaDona Tyson is PRCC director of choral program.

POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College recognized outstanding students Wednesday, April 23, during the annual Awards Day ceremony at Brownstone Center for the Arts. Dr. William Lewis, PRCC president, recognized Tiffany Tucker of Diamondhead and Jansen Owen of Carriere for their selection to the Phi Theta Kappa 2014 All-Mississippi Academic Team. Tucker also was named a Bronze Coca-Cola Scholarship winner and received the English and Spanish Outstanding Student awards. Lewis also presented the Mississippi State University Presidential Partnership Scholarships to Stephen Perry of Hattiesburg and Hollie Chester of Lumberton and the Presidential Scholarship Award for the University of Southern Mississippi to Chelsea Gascho of Picayune. Jonathan Kelly of Poplarville was recognized as PRCC’s HEADWAE student and as the Outstanding Student in computer networking systems. The Citizenship Awards for academic transfer students went to Christopher Barron of Carriere and Chester. The Citizenship Award for career-technical students went to Brooke Fulcher of Lumberton, who also received the Skills USA award. Sherry Hill of Bay St. Louis received the Hancock Center Citizenship Award. The Hancock Center Leadership Award went to Tim Brister of Bay St. Louis. Subject area Outstanding Student Awards are as follows:Marketing management technology - Elizabeth Ladner of Necaise.Marketing management technology, on-line - Kami Tomei of Picayune.Business office systems - Stephanie Strickland of Picayune.Criminal justice technology - Justin James of Lumberton.Health care data technology - Jackie Hinton of Poplarville.Construction equipment technology - Todd Dupre of Mendenhall.Utility lineman technology - Bradley Rayborn of Purvis.Barbering - Joseph Holloway of Picayune and Wayne Cavalier of Covington, La.Cosmetology - Jessica “PJ” Thompson of Picayune.Ceramics - Gus Bowering of Hattiesburg.Design - Macie Keenan of Poplarville.Music - Allen Holifield of Laurel.Public speaking - Angela Larke Bickham of Poplarville.Special studios - Hanna Williams of Picayune.Scholar athletes -Dyllon Beasley of Wiggins and Karly Mitchell of Poplarville, both soccer players.Wellness Center Wildcats - Justin James of Lumberton and Mariah Houpy of Perkinston.Creative writing - Christian Fuller of Carriere. Fuller also received the history award.Criminal justice - D’Shanal Fowler of Picayune.Political science - Shaynna King of Poplarville.Psychology - Lauren Gentry of Florence.Sociology - Lorin Duncan of Poplaville.Drafting and design technology - Russell Cowart of Poplarville. He also received the Department of Industrial Technology Leadership Award.Electronics technology - Jackie Anderson of Carriere.Instrumentation technology - Tye Whitfield of Columbia.Nursing I - Jenna Gambino of Kiln.Nursing II - Ashley Craft of Picayune.Nursing III - Judith Wells of Picayune.Nursing IV - Laura Ashley Breeland of Carriere.Nursing Leadership - Heather Black of Carriere.Mississippi Nursing Foundation - Clayton Coy of Hattiesburg.Practical nursing - Billie Alexander of Carriere.Automotive mechanics technology - Jeremy Smith of Neely.Brick, block and stonemasonry - Travis Moore of Lumberton.Construction management technology - Randy McDonald of Carriere.Electrical technology - Usef Lowe of Hattiesburg.Precision manufacturing and machining technology - Chandler Baughtman of Tylertown.Welding and cutting technology - Joseph Cuevas of Kiln.Welding, Hancock Center - Edward Erskine.Accounting - Virginia Mitchell of Purvis. Biology - Israel Castillo of Prentiss.Business - Melissa Cook of Picayune.Chemistry - Shassidy Lane Ramshur of Columbia. She also received the phsyics award.Computer science - David Failla of Picayune.Who’s Who in American Community Colleges 2013-14 - Mallory Cumberland, Victoria Farmer, Victoria Salinger and Taylor Smith, all of Picayune; Rachel Fowler, Virginia Mitchell, and Adam Nicolosi, all of Purvis; Jonathan Kelly, Dominica Melton and Raven Nightengale, all of Poplarville; Rachel Pierce, Shassidy Ramshur and Adam Weatherford, all of Columbia; Branden Edenfield, Reese Gill and Tiffany Tucker, all of Diamondhead; Ashley Chasez and Kadijah Johnson, both of Waveland; Desmond Edmonson and Brandi Logan, both of Hattiesburg; Matthew Powe and Miranda Rutherford, both of Bay St. Louis; Kimberly Arnold of d’Iberville, Heather Black of Carriere, Hollie Chester of Lumberton, Allen Holifield of Laurel, Ethan Martin of Pisgah, Eusebio Medina of Oak Grove, Destiney Morgan of Saucier, Megan Scronce of Petal and Sarah Silver of Perkinston .

:Pearl River Community College students named to Who’s Who in American Community Colleges 2013-14 are, seated from left, Megan Scronce of Petal, Victoria Salinger of Picayune, Dominica Melton of Poplarville, Shassidy Ramshur of Columbia, Virginia Mitchell of Purvis, Hollie Chester of Lumberton, Kimberly Arnold of d’Iberville, Desmond Edmonson of Quitman; standing, Allen Holifield of Lauren, Branden Edenfield of Diamondhead, Eusebio Medina of Oak Grove, Miranda Rutherford of Bay St. Louis, Reese Gill of Diamondhead, Ethan Martin of Pisgah, Victoria Farmer of Picayune, Ashley Chasez of Waveland and Jonathan Kelly of Poplarville. Not pictured are Heather Black of Carriere, Rachel Fowler and Adam Nicolsi, both of Purvis; Kadijah Johnson of Waveland, Brandi Logan of Hattiesburg, Destiney Morgan of Saucier, Raven Nightengale of Poplarville, Rachel Pierce and Adma Weatherford, both of Columbia;, Matthew Powe of Bay St. Louis, Sarah Silver of Perkinston, Taylor Smith of Picayune and Tiffany Tucker of Diamondhead.PRCC Public Relations photo

Archie Rawls, center, chairman of the Pearl River Community College Department of Fine Arts and Communication presented Outstanding Student Awards to, from left, Gus Bowering of Hattiesburg in ceramics, Allen Holifield of Laurel in music, Macie Keenan of Poplarville in design, Angela Larke Bickham of Poplarville in public speaking and Hanna Williams of Picayune in special studios.PRCC Public Relations photo

Hollie Chester of Lumberton, left, and Christopher Barron of Carriere received the Citizenship Awards for academic transfer students at Pearl River Community College from counselor Wendy Aube` during Awards Day on April 23.PRCC Public Relations photo

POPLARVILLE - One of the matriarchs of Pearl River Community College celebrated her 105th birthday this week. Earlora Holden’s family gathered at her Poplarville home Sunday, April 27, to mark the milestone two days before her actual birthday, April 29. “The Lord has richly blessed us,” her daughter, Dr. Carole Lund of Mandeville, La., said before the guests ate lunch. Mrs. Holden came to PRCC in 1948 when her late husband, Dobie, was hired to coach football. The couple and their children lived in an apartment in Huff Hall for seven years before building the house on U.S. 11 where she lives with the help of personal assistants. She became a student at the age of 40, served as secretary-treasurer of the Pearl River Class of 1951 and went on to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from then-Mississippi Southern College. Mrs. Holden taught business education at Pearl River for 27 years and served as department chair. She also was in charge of the presentation of the homecoming court and sponsored the cheerleaders. Dobie Holden coached the Pearl River Wildcats to the 1961 national championship and retired from coaching in 1966. He served as dean of men until 1970.During their retirement years, Mrs. Holden took up a variety of hobbies, including painting, crocheting and embroidery, and the couple gardened and traveled extensively before his death in 1986. In 2010, PRCC named a women’s dormitory the Earlora Chapman Holden Student Residence Hall in her honor. “She got a big 8-by-10 card from the students in Holden dorm,” Lund said. “She loved that. She treasured having her close family there with her. It was a great reminder of her 100th birthday celebration. Every person that was there brought a smile to Mom.” During the get-together, Dr. Thomas Holden of Grenada remembered his mother asking “What’s next?” after her 100th birthday party. “I said, ‘How about 105?,” he said. “So now, it’s how about 110?” Mrs. Holden and her children are charter members of the PRCC Development Foundation which awards the Coach Dobie Holden Memorial Scholarship annually. Mrs. Holden received the foundation’s Distinguished Service Award in 1989.

Earlora Holden holds the birthday card signed by the Pearl River Community College students who live in the Earlora Chapman Holden Student Residence Hall.PRCC Public Relations photoDr. Carole Lund of Mandeville, La., welcomes family to the 105th birthday celebration for her mother, Mrs. Earlora Holden of Poplarville, seated. Listening are Mrs. Holden’s son, Dr. Thomas Holden of Grenada, and her niece, Rosemarie Baugher of Houston, Texas.PRCC Public Relations photo